Gloves With At Least Partially Detaching Fingers to Expose Finger Tips

ABSTRACT

A glove with fasteners on the fingers that comprises a glove for accommodating a hand, including at least a thumb digit and an index finger digit on the glove. A pair of mating fasteners interposed between an upper portion and a lower portion of at least one digit to fasten the upper portion and the lower portion together. The upper portion may be unfastened from the lower portion by the mating fasteners and at least partially removed to expose an upper portion of a digit of the hand.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

No applicant.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to the field of gloves, more particularly to a glove having fingers at least partially detachable to expose finger tips.

2. Description of Related Art

Smartphones, tablets, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and similar devices having touch sensitive screens serving as Graphical User Interface (GUI) have rapidly proliferated in recent years. These portable communication and computer devices feature sophisticated data reception, manipulation, and transmission capabilities; most of which require manipulation on the GUI. The utility of the touch sensitive screen forming the GUI has grown to include biometric security features based on fingerprints necessary to power up and access the device.

The portable communication and computer devices on the market have enjoyed considerable growth in popularity. Many consumers exists in a symbiotic relation with their portable devices, keeping the devices within easy reach throughout the day. Furthermore, many cannot resist the need to immediately respond to text, notification from email or social media accounts, and calls. However, in cold weather, many people find their devices all but inaccessible, because the security features and interface require manipulation by a glove covered finger. Gloves rarely allow fingertips swipes and other touch interactions using a GUT to control the device.

While gloves can be removed for accessing the GUI on a mobile device, numerous difficulties are encountered, One must remove the glove, stow the glove, and then access the phone, and finally replace the glove. Tight fitting gloves can be especially problematic, requiring considerable manipulation to remove and then put on, and bulky gloves can be difficult to stow or otherwise put away. Too often, many people will drop or otherwise misplace/lose the glove.

Based on the foregoing, there is a need for a glove that allows for exposing fingers necessary to manipulate the GUI to interface with a mobile device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A glove with fasteners on the fingers that comprises a glove for accommodating a hand, including at least a thumb digit and an index finger digit on the glove. A pair of mating fasteners interposed between an upper portion and a lower portion of at least one digit to fasten the upper portion and the lower portion together. The upper portion may be unfastened from the lower portion by the mating fasteners and at least partially removed to expose an upper portion of a digit of the hand.

The at least one digit comprises both the thumb and the index finger.

The mating fasteners comprise a hinge joint.

The mating fasteners comprises at least one of a pair of rings, a pair of magnetic rings, a zipper, or a screw thread.

The upper portion of a digit comprises a tip.

The glove comprises a right hand glove and a left hand glove.

The foregoing, and other features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following, more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, the accompanying drawings, and the claims:

Advantages:

1. Improved protection from cold.

2. Improved convenience in cold weather.

3. Improved ease of use for smart phones.

4. Improved typing ability.

5. Reduced loss of gloves removed for the sake of using a smart phone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the ensuing descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings briefly described as follows.

FIG. 1 is a top view of a pair of gloves, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the pair of gloves with one digit partially exposed, according to an embodiment of the present invention and

FIG. 3 is another top view of an enhanced view of the gloves with one digit entirely exposed, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention and their advantages may be understood by referring to FIGS. 1-3, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements.

Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to the Figures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments. For example, it should be appreciated that those skilled in the art will, in light of the teachings of the present invention, recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches, depending upon the needs of the particular application, to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond the particular implementation choices in the following embodiments described and shown. That is, there are numerous modifications and variations of the invention that are too numerous to be listed but that ail fit within the scope of the invention. Also, singular words should be read as plural and vice versa and masculine as feminine and vice versa, where appropriate, and alternative embodiments do not necessarily imply that the two are mutually exclusive.

It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular methodology, compounds, materials, manufacturing techniques, uses, and applications, described herein, as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. Similarly, for another example, a reference to “a step” or “a means” is a reference to one or more steps or means and may include sub-steps and subservient means. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word “or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical “or” rather than that of a logical “exclusive or” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Preferred methods, techniques, devices, and materials are described, although any methods, techniques, devices, or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein may be used in the practice or testing of the present invention. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

From reading the present disclosure, other variations and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. Such variations and modifications may involve equivalent and other features which are already known in the art, and which may be used instead of or in addition to features already described herein.

Although Claims have been formulated in this Application to particular combinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of the disclosure of the present invention also includes any novel feature or any novel combination of features disclosed herein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalization thereof, whether or not it relates to the same invention as presently claimed in any Claim and whether or not it mitigates any or all of the same technical problems as does the present invention.

Features which are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination. The Applicants hereby give notice that new Claims may be formulated to such features and/or combinations of such features during the prosecution of the present Application or of any further Application derived therefrom.

References to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” “various embodiments,” etc., may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in one embodiment,” or “in an exemplary embodiment,” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may.

Headings provided herein are for convenience and are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure in any way.

The enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “a”, “an” and “the” mean “one or more”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

Devices or system modules that are in at least general communication with each other need not be in continuous communication with each other, unless expressly specified otherwise. In addition, devices or system modules that are in at least general communication with each other may communicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.

A description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present invention.

As is well known to those skilled in the art many careful considerations and compromises typically must be made when designing for the optimal manufacture of a commercial implementation any system, and in particular, the embodiments of the present invention. A commercial implementation in accordance with the spirit and teachings of the present invention may configured according to the needs of the particular application, whereby any aspect(s), feature(s), function(s), result(s), component(s), approach(es), or step(s) of the teachings related to any described embodiment of the present invention may be suitably omitted, included, adapted, mixed and matched, or improved and/or optimized by those skilled in the art, using their average skills and known techniques, to achieve the desired implementation that addresses the needs of the particular application.

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a top view of a pair of gloves in accord with an embodiment of the invention. Pair of gloves 100 includes a right glove 105 and a left glove 110. Right glove 105 can include a thumb 106, an index/forefinger 107, and the three other fingers 103. The thumb 106 and index finger 107 further can include a set of two-part fasteners 120, 121, 125, and 126. The thumb 106 can include lower fastener 120 that can mate with upper fastener 121, and the index finger 107 can include a lower fastener 125 that can mate with upper fastener 126.

Left glove 110 can include a thumb 111 and index/forefinger 112, and the three other fingers 113. The thumb Ill can include a two-part fasteners 130 and 131, and the lower fastener 130 can mate with upper fastener 131. In an alternative embodiment, the index finger 112 can include a lower fastener and upper fastener as well.

The fasteners 120, 121, 125, 126, 130, and 131 can be positioned at the end of the respective finger/thumb so as to enable exposure and at least partial removal of that digit to expose the underlying body part. In this way, the tips of the thumb and index finger can be exposed to use a GUI. The fasteners 120, 121, 125, 126, 130, and 131 can include magnetic rings, a set of complimentary screw threads that attach and detach by twisting and untwisting, and a zipper. In a zipper fastener, a rigid ring can also be included to which the zipper is bonded. Rings can be made from a rigid, metal or polymer.

FIG. 2 shows another top view of a pair of gloves 200 in accord with the invention with a right glove 205 and a left glove 210. In an embodiment, the right glove 205 can include a lower thumb portion 220 with a bonded fastener 221 and an upper thumb portion 225 with a bonded fastener 226. In an embodiment, the right glove 205 can include a lower index finger portion 240 with bonded fastener 241 and an upper index finger portion 230 with bonded fastener 231. Right glove 205 further includes three fingers 245.

In an embodiment, the left glove 210 can include a lower thumb portion 250 with a bonded fastener 251 and an upper thumb portion 255 with a bonded fastener 256. In an embodiment, the left glove 210 can include an index finger 260 and three other fingers 261.

As depicted, upper thumb portion 225 has been detached from lower thumb portion 220. The two thumb portions 225 and 220 can include a hinge joint 270 interposed between the fasteners 221 and 226. Likewise, the other fasteners 231, 241, 251, and 256 can include an interposed hinge.

FIG. 3 shows another top view 300 of left glove 305, In an embodiment, lower thumb portion 310 has been separated from the upper thumb portion 315 by unfastening fasteners 311 and 312. Lower index finger portion 330 remains attached to upper finger portion 335 by fastener 331, attached to lower finger portion 330, and fastener 336 attached to upper finger portion 335.

Left glow 350 can include lower thumb portion 355 connected to upper thumb portion 360 by fasteners 356 and 361.

In use, the tips of the thumbs 106 and 111 as well as index finger 103 can be at least partially exposed to use to operate a mobile device. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper thumb portion 225 and upper index finger portion 230 can be at least partially detached to expose the underlying digit. Or as shown in FIG. 3, the upper thumb portion 320 and upper index finger portion 335 can be completely detached to expose the underlying digit.

The gloves 100 can comprise leather, cloth, or other suitable flexible synthetic such as nylon, rubber, or plastic.

The invention has been described herein using specific embodiments for the purposes of illustration only. It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, however, that the principles of the invention can be embodied in other ways. Therefore, the invention should not be regarded as being limited in scope to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but instead as being fully commensurate in scope with the following claims. 

I claim:
 1. A glove with fasteners on the fingers, comprising: a glove for accommodating a hand, including at least a thumb digit and an index finger digit on the glove; a pair of mating fasteners interposed between an upper portion and a lower portion of at least one digit to fasten the upper portion and the lower portion together; wherein the upper portion may be unfastened from the lower portion by the mating fasteners and at least partially removed to expose an upper portion of a digit of the hand.
 2. The glove with fasteners on the fingers of claim 1, wherein the at least one digit comprises both the thumb and the index finger.
 3. The glove with fasteners on the fingers of claim 1, wherein the mating fasteners comprise a hinge joint.
 4. The glove with fasteners on the fingers of claim 1, wherein the mating fasteners comprises at least one of a pair of rings, a pair of magnetic rings, a zipper, or a screw thread.
 5. The glove with fasteners on the fingers of claim 1, wherein the upper portion of a digit comprises a tip.
 6. The glove with fasteners on the fingers of claim 1, wherein the glove comprises a right hand glove and a left hand glove. 